In 2018, Helyn Latham and her family moved from Bavaria, Germany, to Glencoe.
In her three years in the village, Latham has been struck by the Green Bay Trail, the popular walking and biking path close to the rail lines.
“It is beautiful and that it is next to a train line is brilliant,” Latham remarked.
Since moving to the community, Latham has taken part in the village’s environmental advocacy movement and joined Glencoe’s Sustainability Task Force. She represented that group July 31 as the Friends of the Green Bay Trail hosted Green Bay Trail Day. By the organization’s estimate, 400 people stopped by on a sunny Saturday morning.
Formed in 2010, Friends of the Green Bay Trail volunteers work to remove invasive species and restore Glencoe’s portions of the trail with native and sustainable plants.
“It is such an incredible project that they have renovated and encouraged the number of pollinators and getting people to enjoy the outdoors,” Latham said.
From Shelton Park to the north and proceeding south of Scott Avenue into Winnetka, onlookers were able to speak with representatives of 19 community-based entities.
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As Latham discussed the Sustainability Task Force, the Glencoe Park District, the Glencoe Community Garden and the Winnetka Historical Society were also in attendance as a jazz quarter and a ukulele soloist performed.
Last year, the coronavirus pandemic required cancellation of the event, which launched in 2019. Friends of the Green Bay Trail Trustee Meridith Clement was pleased it could resume this year.
“Because of the length of the trail and the event, social distancing was easily accomplished,” Clement said. “We were ecstatic that we were able to do it again this year. It was only in late spring that we could safely offer this event and we had the full support of the village to do so. We are looking forward to another future event due to the positive feedback.”
In their role of playing host, the group set up a pollinator table, where visitors were asked to locate their property on a map to show they have pollinator-supportive garden at their home.
“The intent was to demonstrate the growing interest in supporting pollinators and the need to have supportive pollinator pathways,” Clement added. “Multiple gardens are needed to provide habitat, nesting sites and support for migration.”
Volunteer Stacy Pritsker was of the greeting committee where she encouraged young families to know about the group and sign up for further information for family and community events.
“My children are grown but we have utilizing it for two decades,” Pritsker said. “The changes that have occurred since the involvement of the FGBT to beautify and sustain the trail to its native species has made it a lovely place to exercise, walk and socialize for neighbors.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter.